Junior showmanship

County agricultural fairs in the United States began holding livestock judging contests for members of the 4-H, a club run by state agricultural extensions for children of farm families, in the early 1900s.

The American Kennel Club recognized Junior Showmanship as a dog show class in 1971.

The Junior Showmanship competition is organized in a similar manner to a conformation dog show.

The Juniors are separated into their age and experience levels, and enter the ring in order of the size of their dog.

The juniors must move their dogs around the ring according to the instructions of the judge in pre determined patterns.

In close competition between advanced Juniors, judging is also based on the Junior's knowledge of his or her dog's faults, and how well they disguise the faults through skillful handling so that "what a judge observes are animals at the top of their form.